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Avalon University School of Medicine (AUSOM) is located in the capital of Willemstad on the Caribbean island of Curacao. It was founded in 2003. It is a fully accredited medical school with over 700 graduates practising medicine in the United States, Canada and around the world.
Avalon's MD programme is modelled after the US curriculum and is taught by experienced faculty who hold either an MD or PhD in the subject they are teaching.
Avalon's mission is to prepare competent physicians with high standards of professionalism, patient safety and ethical practice.
Avalon University School of Medicine offers 3 pathways for medicine:
All programmes are taught completely in English.
Avalon also welcomes student transfers from another medical school and accepts clinical transfer applications at any time of the year.
AUSOM also offers a Clinical Experience Programme that lets international medical graduates complete between 12 and 72 weeks of clinical rotations in ACGME-approved US hospitals.
The first 3 semesters of both the Pre-med and Bachelor of Science programmes are taught online, with the remaining semester(s) taught at the university campus in Curacao.
The Avalon University School of Medicine fees are as follows:
The Preclinical Sciences Phase costs per semester (6 semesters standard MD track, 5 semesters accelerated MD).
The Clinical Sciences Phase cost for ICM and per 12-week semester (6 semesters).
Pre-Med costs per semester (16 months, 4 semesters).
Bachelor of Science costs per semester (6 semesters).
There is no written entrance exam for this university, but candidates need to take part in a video interview in order to apply to Avalon. The Admissions Committee at Avalon University considers academic history, including GPA, personal traits, life experiences and readiness for medical training.
To apply for the 4-Year MD programme, applicants must:
Avalon's mandatory prerequisite courses are:
For both the 5-Year Pre-Med + MD and 6-Year BS + MD, applicants just need a high school diploma.
To significantly improve your chances of getting accepted at Avalon University School of Medicine Curacao, we strongly recommend scheduling a free consultation with one of our expert advisors. We know what Avalon looks for in an ideal applicant, as well as the entirety of the application process. We can take care of the admission process from start to finish, helping you submit an application that stands out from the competition. We will also provide resources to help you prepare for your interview. With Medlink Students by your side, you can avoid the stress of applying to a medical school abroad and focus on what is important: preparing for your interview and your future medical studies.
Don't hesitate to take advantage of our expertise in the field of medical education by scheduling a free consultation with 1 of our expert advisors.
Avalon's curriculum is built to prepare students to become doctors in the US, Canada and beyond. The programme is designed to completely prepare students for their medical licensing exams, clinical years and postgraduate training.
On campus, students have access to labs for anatomy, microbiology, physiology, biochemistry, histopathology and clinical skills, as well as a library, campus Wi-Fi, online practice questions and medical journals.
The curriculum also includes USMLE preparation.
The MD programme at Avalon is divided into 2 main parts:
Essentially, theory & practical training in labs. It is divided into 5 or 6 semesters, depending on the track. Preclinical sciences are taught on the Avalon campus in Curacao.
During this phase, students learn about:
The 5th semester (MD5) is the "bridge" between the preclinical and clinical years. Students study only for USMLE Step 1 through a comprehensive review course of 285 contact hours, alongside a short course called Getting into Residency. Once a student passes USMLE Step 1, they become eligible to begin clinical rotations.
Before rotations begin, students complete a 6-week Introduction to Clinical Medicine course at the site where they will train.
The clinical phase then consists of 72 weeks, with 48 weeks of required core rotations and 24 weeks of electives:
Electives are chosen by the student and cover a wide range of specialities, including cardiology, dermatology, emergency medicine, neurology, radiology, urology, anaesthesiology and many more. Students work directly with a Clinical Coordinator who helps them choose their preferred rotation locations, and they can complete all rotations in one location or move between sites.
Up to 12 weeks of electives can be completed outside the Avalon University curriculum, subject to approval.
Avalon has established partnerships with ACGME-approved teaching hospitals across the United States, including in Beckley, West Virginia, Chicago, Illinois and Phoenix, Arizona. Additionally Avalon University has new clinical partnerships with Prime Healthcare, California, Wyckoff Heights Medical Centre, Brooklyn, New York and Banner Health, Arizona.
Avalon has rolling admissions with 3 intakes per year:
Avalon asks US and Canadian citizens to apply at least 2 months before the start date. Students whose nationality requires a visa to enter Curacao should apply at least 3 months before the start date to allow time for travel documents.
Clinical transfer students can apply and begin at any time of the year.
Both ACCM and CAAM-HP are recognised by the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME) and are listed with the US National Committee on Foreign Medical Education and Accreditation (NCFMEA).
Avalon University School of Medicine is listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS Avalon).
Avalon graduates can pursue medical licensing in:
Medlink Students can help you understand the medical licensing requirements in your country or where you plan to practise. Book your free consultation for personalised guidance.
Currently, over 700 Avalon University graduates are practising medicine in the US, Canada and around the world.
Avalon offers on-campus dormitory housing for all of its students. New students are typically required to live in the dorms for their first 2 semesters. This helps students settle into island life and build a support network. After two semesters, students can choose to live off campus. Exemptions are possible after review by the Housing Committee.
Rooms come in singles and doubles with the following prices:
Meal plans are also available in the dorm cafeteria:
All rooms are air-conditioned and come with a queen-size bed, desk, chair and storage space. Every individual room has a private bathroom.
Utilities, including water, electricity and Wi-Fi, are included in the Avalon University School of Medicine housing fees. The dorm is 1 minute's walk from classes and offers 24/7 security, regular housekeeping, laundry services, designated cooking areas, a convenience store, vending machines and an outdoor pool. The beach is a short walk away.
Students at Avalon University can join faculty-led projects, independent studies or collaborative research.
Students are introduced to research through the Evidence-Based Medicine & Introduction to Clinical Research courses in the curriculum, which are supported by the university's Research and Ethics Committee.
Over the past 5 years, Avalon students and faculty have contributed to more than 200 research publications.
Avalon students and faculty have presented at conferences in the United States and internationally. The university offers a travel grant to students invited to present. Each year, Avalon also hosts the Avalon Research Symposium with research presentations, panel discussions and international networking opportunities.
Curacao is 1 of the most modern and well-established islands in the Caribbean with high standards of living and excellent infrastructure. It is a constituent country of the Netherlands and is home to around 150,000 people.
Students here can enjoy a comfortable high-quality lifestyle, with a monthly budget of around to cover your accommodation, utilities, food, transport and leisure.
The languages spoken in Curacao are Dutch, English, Spanish and Papiamento, a local language. English is widely spoken, so you do not need to learn another language before arriving.
The island has a tropical climate with year-round warm temperatures. The island also lies outside the hurricane belt, so students can expect a nice, calm, warm and pleasant experience throughout the year. In your free time, you can relax at over 30 beaches and enjoy some of the best scuba diving in the world.
Curacao is also well-connected with frequent direct flights to Curacao International Airport from Miami, New York, New Jersey, Charlotte, Toronto, and more.
Avalon puts student experience first and offers a wide range of support services, including:
Medlink Students also provides comprehensive personalised support to help students understand the application process, prepare for their studies abroad and settle into their new student life in Curacao.
Curacao is considered 1 of the most diverse islands in the Caribbean, thanks to its location close to South America and its ties to the Netherlands.
Students can find plenty of food options, including halal, kosher, vegetarian and vegan choices. Curacao is also home to mosques, churches and synagogues, making it easier for students of different faiths to feel at home.
Avalon's student body is also very diverse, with students from the US, Canada, Europe and beyond.
Avalon has made a virtual tour of its campus available online, so you can see its facilities and learning environment.
Avalon University School of Medicine is an exceptional destination for students looking for an accredited, affordable, US-style medical education in a safe and welcoming environment. The university prioritises the success of each student, both professionally and personally.
With the support of Medlink Students, you can drastically increase your chances of getting accepted. We will handle the application process from start to finish, including providing resources to help you prepare for your interview. We will make sure that you submit a strong application that stands out from the competition.
Make use of this opportunity by signing up for a free consultation as your 1st step toward a successful career in medicine.
Avalon University School of Medicine is located in Willemstad, the capital of the Caribbean island of Curacao. The campus address is WTC, Piscaderaweg z/n, Willemstad, Curacao.
Tuition fees at Avalon are:
Preclinical Sciences: per semester (5 or 6 semesters).
Clinical Sciences: for ICM and per 12-week semester (6 semesters).
Both the pre-med (4 semesters) and the Bachelor of Science (6 semesters) programmes cost per semester.
Yes, transfer students are accepted.
Yes, the medicine course is entirely taught in English.
Avalon has rolling admissions and accepts students throughout the year with 3 intakes per year: in January, May and September.
US and Canadian citizens should apply at least 2 months before the start date. Students who need a visa to enter Curacao should apply at least 3 months before.
MCAT is optional for admission to Avalon's MD programme. Applicants with an MCAT score of 491 or higher can qualify for the accelerated MD track.
The 5-year and 6-year pathways do not require MCAT.
There is no written entrance exam to apply to Avalon, but students will need to take part in a video interview.
Yes. If you have finished high school, you can apply for the 4-semester Pre-Med programme or the 6-semester Bachelor of Science programme, both of which lead to automatic admission to the MD programme on successful completion.
You can even get accepted to the 4-year MD track if you have at least 90 premedical undergraduate credit hours in the prerequisite courses.
The Avalon University School of Medicine clinical rotations are carried out in ACGME-approved teaching hospitals in the US, with partnerships in Beckley (WV), Chicago (IL) and Phoenix (AZ), and new affiliations in California, New York and Arizona.
Yes, students can live in the student dorm in single or double rooms.
New students are usually required to live in the on-campus dormitory for their first 2 semesters, but exemptions are possible.
After that, you can choose to live off campus.
Avalon reports a 92% first-time residency match rate in 2025 and a 1st-time pass rate of over 90% on USMLE Step 2 in 2024.
Over 700 Avalon graduates are practising medicine in the US, Canada and around the world.
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